Chapter 57
Ultimatum

The room was as silent as a crypt.

Within the darkened confines of the tracking unit's meeting chambers, before her commander, Nomasaki knelt on her knee – her face concealed by the ceaseless snarling of her wolfish visage. His eyes narrowed in suspicion, he stood above her with his harsh face curved into a scowl – his scars meeting the small fragments of sunlight as they shone through the deteriorating ceiling above.

"It's unusual for you to approach me like this," Moro began, his tone stern. "What seems to be on your mind?"

"Moro-sama, I…" Nomasaki paused, her voice coming to a halt as she tried to frame her sentences carefully. "I would like to… ask for your permission to refrain from high-profile assignments for the time being. If it would be alright with the Tracking Unit, I would like to be assigned domestic duties. Temporarily, of course."

"This is highly unlike you," He replied, crossing his arms over his chest. "I overheard you were injured returning from Konoha. Is that why you're asking of this?"

Jolting, she felt her heart pound in her chest – did he know? Dancing around the possible answers she could give, she continued to assume he knew nothing of the sort. If he were to find out, it would be her ultimate shame. The very element that allowed her to stand out amongst the other tracker-nin – taken away momentarily by a mere shard of an unknown substance. She would be the laughingstock of her unit, known for her patchy-sensory-skills and uncontrollable wolfishness, or better yet – the Wolf of the Desert who-was-no-longer-a-wolf. The mere thought haunted her as if her worst nightmare.

"Yes, sir. I also would like to make an apology for this request. I know the unit is currently under strain… I'm sorry."

Uttering a sigh, he nodded once – his eyes closing towards the floor's broken tile beneath. "I can't make any promises, but I can assure you – your assignments will change as you requested." Looking upon her, he gave her a serious glance. "For now, your duty is to remain in the village as my right-hand, unless otherwise directed."

"Thank you, Moro-sama." She bowed, gratefully.

"You are dismissed," He spoke, watching her mask's snarling expression meet his harsh gaze. "Thanks to that new terrorist group encroaching on our lands, I have important matters to attend to."

"Yes, sir."

Stepping out into the blinding sunlight that coated the roof of the deteriorating building, she untied the mask from her face, holding it in her palms as she looked upon her sand-ridden village with her own eyes. Looking down at the porcelain shroud she held in her hands, her lilac eyes saddened in self-pity as she gazed into its snarling expression of fierceness. Although she managed to hide her struggle from her commander, convincing herself that she could once more regain control would prove to be a difficult task. Although days later since she returned from Konoha, her Kekkei Genkai failed to activate when she would prepare to undergo the transformation. As if mocking her, her mask's muzzle curled towards her as her glance bore through it.

While the desert winds whipped her golden hair against her sorrowful expression, she placed her mask within her satchel at her side. Startling her, the winds of sand behind her began to manifest into a growing form as the sounds of moving grains caught her attention. Turning towards the mass of sand, it slowly grew into the shape of Gaara as the winds blew past, easing her guarded stance.

"You're not one to part with your mask," He spoke, stepping towards her as his apparition solidified. "Trying for a change?"

"Gaara!" She turned, meeting his calming and content glance. Although only a clone from his Third Eye Jutsu, she felt as if she were speaking to the real one. "Were you searching for me?"

"Yeah," He nodded. "If you have time, can you meet me at my office when you're finished here? There's something I must discuss privately with you."

Noticing the air of sternness within his turquoise eyes, she grew curious from his manner of approach – and its unsaid urgency. Something felt odd between them – and his request made her feel all the more concerned for what news might await her.

Was it Tenbu?

Her father?

Or worse – did the council find out about the skirmish in Yama? Knowing the consequences, he could find himself within the ropes of trouble for such an act.

"Alright," She nodded, her glance calm – masking her previous evident sadness. "I'll be with you soon."

"I'll wait for you, then." He said with a small smile, acknowledging her answer. "Thank you, Nomasaki."

Swiftly, the desert winds picked up around him. With each passing gust, the sands that composed his form disappeared into the flowing winds – taking him with it. After taking a final look upon the village before her, she turned away with blank lilac eyes, making her way towards the Kazekage's mansion in the shrouded distance – to where she was being summoned.

An hour later, dressed in her simple blue kimono, Nomasaki sat upon the edge of his wooden desk with a curious air to her drained lilac eyes, her palms resting upon the aged craftsmanship as she watched him finish his paperwork. It was amusing to witness him working by himself, she thought – reminding her of all the times she had to assist him finish his forms on time. Sitting in his chair, he swiftly signed the remaining sheets laid out on his desk – his eyes scanning each page's surface before moving on to the next.

"Did you end up finding anyone to replace me?" She brought herself to ask, trying to distract herself from her internal thoughts of despair. "Since I resigned, I mean."

"We've had a few applicants willing to take the task on," He answered, his glance unmoving. "However, they ended up resigning as well. They couldn't keep up with the workload as well as you did." Turning to her after the final stroke of his pen, he smiled lightly towards her. "You left big shoes to fill as my assistant, if I'm being honest."

Warming her heart, she smiled back at him. "Was I your favorite assistant?"

"You could say that." As he sorted his last sheets of paperwork into the drawer of his desk, she chuckled silently to herself – amused by his subtle playful response. Although he was never the overtly affectionate type, he did have a charming way with words, which warmed her in a way. "If you honestly wanted to, you could come back as my assistant. It would definitely save me more time from this mountain of paperwork."

Slightly surprised by his remark, she looked to him wide-eyed. With a brief chuckle upon her lips, she smiled back at him. "Wouldn't that be strange since we're together? I've got my hands full with the tracking unit, anyways."

"I know," He replied, fixing the last of the sheets into its bind. "Just a thought."

Watching him close his desk drawer, her glance turned curious as she remembered why she was there in the first place – he summoned her. "So," She began, her timid nature tinting her lilac eyes as she met his calm expression. "Why was it you summoned me? You said there was something we had to discuss… was it Tenbu?"

Her words striking his memory, he averted his gaze, slightly. "No, it's not that," He answered. "It's… something else." Curiously, she watched him stand up from his seat, standing only breaths away from her perch upon his desk. Looking into her curious eyes of vibrant violet, he felt the slight nervousness return to his chest. "The council…" He began, swallowing his hidden fluster of the topic, looking down in preparation. "Now that we're…" His words trailing, he brought himself to look her in the eyes – her expression attempting to decode what he was attempting to explain. The nervousness creeping in, he averted his glance, struggling to maintain his stoic nature. "In a… relationship," Looking up to her, he gave her an expression of calm. "Because I'm the Kazekage, I have to let the council know about this, for… protective reasons."

Flinching shyly from his words, she felt her cheeks redden slightly as she sat across from him in his office. Her glance trailing to her lap, she pondered to herself for a moment. Humbled that she would no longer be a secret from the council, the thought of her itching Kekkei Genkai still gnawed at her. Even as she sat before him, she could feel her wolf blood stir inside in distorted bewilderment. Still, she could not bring herself to tell him the truth of what the wound did to her that day when she crossed paths with the assassin from Tenbu. For now, it would be no one's business but hers – and she intended to keep it that way.

"R-Really?" She asked, her voice light and timid. "The council?"

"I know it's a pain," He sighed with a nod, his expression curving into a slight frown – glancing to his side. "But this is something we have to do." Noticing her shyness gleaming through her eyes, he gave her an assuring glance. "This will be over with shortly, I promise."

"Kazekage-sama,"

Directing their attention towards the open doorway, they saw a Suna shinobi waiting for them by the entrance to the corridor – their expression somewhat stern.

"The advisors are waiting in the council's chambers," They spoke. "Should I tell them you're ready for the meeting?"

"Yes," Gaara answered, his eyes serious. "Tell them we'll be with them shortly."

Nervously, Nomasaki watched the messenger leave into the winding hallway, her cautious eyes following his path. An unexpected arrival yet so sudden – especially after the moment Gaara disclosed their reason for meeting. She felt as if she were being put on the spot and she was going to approach it in strides – at least at the beginning.

"Come," Startling her from her thoughts, she turned towards the sound of his voice. As she glanced into his stoic expression, she noticed he had his palm held out towards her – sand surrounding the air between his fingers, swirling seamlessly. "We should be on our way." He said. "We shouldn't keep them waiting."

Glancing down at his open palm, she looked back to him, her nervous eyes meeting his calm expression of slate. With a timid nod, her trembling hand joined his, the sand surrounding them growing and swirling rapidly. Unsure of what was happening, she shut her eyes and clung to him – the two of them disappearing with the sands.

Opening her eyes, she found herself before the open doors to the council's meeting chambers.

Timidly, as she let go from his grasp, she watched his back as he entered the towering doorway before them – her eyes flickering nervously as she swallowed her thoughts, following behind him to finally confront the stubborn council. Unnerving her, she could feel her palms tremble at her sides, her blood beginning to slowly boil inside – her weak grasp of control returning at the worst possible time. Sensing the narrowed glances from the seated advisors, she retreated by the doorway, hoping her broken Kekkei Genkai would refrain from making an unwelcome appearance.

Sitting before the young Kazekage in the presence of the massive stone statues of their past leaders, within the chamber were the four council elders – the advisors who seemed the most concerned regarding the proposed marriage arrangement – the ones most disappointed when it was rejected by the Kazekage, himself. Although the encompassing table was seated by only four members, the quiet only added to the potential intimidation. Placing his folded hands upon the aged table, Zarō – the head advisor, faced the Kazekage from afar, his dark eyes narrowed sternly.

"Gaara-sama," He began, the other councillors preparing for the discussion. "You've come to inform us of something?"

"Yes," Gaara nodded, his expression calm. "I'm here to confirm with the Sunagakure Council…–," Unable to see her from the corner of his eye, he jolted slightly, turning briefly towards the doorway. Bringing himself to face them, he turned back towards them, averting his glance as the pressure mounted on his shoulders. "…my relationship with Nomasaki of the Yamamori clan."

"You may enter." One of the elders spoke, their voice echoing in the chamber – breaking apart the disgruntled whispers of their audience.

While the elders directed their attention towards the doorway, they witnessed the timid young woman step forward, pausing beside Gaara with her nervous glance averted from their intruding examination of her appearance. Knowing how they retained the old-age stigma against foreign-born and outsiders, she held no ill will towards them – although she would rather them get over it and leave them alone. The more she felt the unease, the more she could feel herself internally lose control. Bringing herself to hide her fear, she adorned a shroud of calm on her porcelain face, allowing her expression to act like her absent tracker mask.

"Thank you, sir." She said, meeting the elder's suspicious glare. "I… apologize for my late arrival. I don't mean any disrespect."

"How long has this relationship been transpiring?"

"About a month, sir." Gaara answered, feeling relief as he acknowledged her at his side. "Since the rejection of the arranged marriage proposed by the council and the Hoki Family."

"Keh!" One of the elders scoffed, grimacing. "As expected by our suspicions… you are having an affair with the outsider!"

"She's not an outsider," Another chided, turning to his comrade. "She's been a shinobi in our ranks for many years, now. This is no place for such ignorance!"

"Not to mention," Zarō entered, eyeing the disgruntled elder. "This woman is of our lands, as she was born to a Yama mother and a Suna father. She is therefore a citizen with our blood, whether you acknowledge it or not."

"Thank you, Zarō-sama," Gaara said, glancing towards him. "You saved me the trouble of interrupting this myself. Would that be all?"

While Nomasaki stood in silence, her fragmented hope for the meeting to end came crashing down the moment she saw the disgruntled elder stand from his seat, slamming his fists onto the table before them. "Do you have any idea what this will do to the bloodline of your clan?! The Kazekage Clan's legacy is at stake… all because of your apparent selfishness!"

"A legacy that you cling to so frivolously," Gaara shot back, sternly. "This is not of your concern."

"As Kazekage, everything you do is a concern to us… as is the matter of Suna's future."

Glaring back in retaliation, Gaara stood quietly as they exchanged tense expressions with another from a distance. Catching her attention, Nomasaki grew curious, becoming worried of the interaction and the words they exchanged – something was going straight over her head and she was afraid to ask what exactly it was.

"Future? What's this all about?" She interrupted, placing her hand lightly on Gaara's shoulder. "Your bloodline? What do you mean?"

Meeting her confused and nervous gaze from her lilac eyes, Gaara bit his tongue – the shame and guilt returning into his eyes. "We don't have to discuss this here–,"

"Has Kazekage-sama not told you?" An elder scoffed. "We're here to discuss your union!"

"Union?" She repeated, her eyes widening. Looking back to Gaara, his ringed-eyes were averted from hers, looking towards the floor where they stood. "Gaara?"

Taking in a breath, he turned to face her honorably. While he looked into her eyes, he could not bring himself to hide the embarrassing truth from her any longer. "In order to reject the arranged marriage, I had to have a bride from Suna decided," He began, his tone quiet. "Nomasaki, this is a meeting to inform them of our…–,"

"Impending marriage!" One of the elders interrupted, drawing their instant attention. "We're looking forward to proceeding with the ceremony arrangements as soon as possible."

Freezing instantly from the elder's words, Nomasaki's eyes grew with shock, completely taken aback by the reveal of their intentions – her hand retreating from him suddenly. "M-Marriage?" She stammered, her voice quivering in her stunned state as she faced the elders. "So soon?"

"That was the clause for rejecting the arranged marriage," Gaara whispered, drawing close to her as he could sense her distress. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner… this doesn't change anything, I promise. We just have to let on to appease them… They will leave us alone soon enough…"

"Kazekage-sama, if I'm being completely honest, this arrangement is indeed quite a shock."

"Agreed," Another elder joined, nodding his turban-covered head. "The mixing of two clans can be dangerous–,"

As she stood in silent shock, their words trailed in her mind.

While she could feel her fingers tremble at her sides, she felt as if her breathing was becoming forced, her eyes going wide in mounting panic. With each breath that passed through her lips, her blood boiled as the tremors traveled towards her shivering spine. Shaking silently as she stood in stunned anxiety, small waves of pain came with each inhale and ceased with each exhale. As her labored breathing became heavier as the councillor's voices fell on deaf ears, her face began to twist as the air was sucked through her mouth – revealing a grotesque form of a monster with an elongated snout, slit eyes, and a muzzle full of gleaming white fangs – only to disappear momentarily as the air left her lips. Trapped within a stunned cycle of beast and human fighting for control, she stood frozen in the chamber with her lilac eyes wide and directed towards the floor.

His words trailing off, the councillor paused his spiel towards her, gasping in shock as he caught of glimpse of what was becoming her – a monster. "W-What's happening?!" He stammered, his started voice alerting the other advisors and Gaara.

"Young woman!" Zarō shouted, biting his tongue at the beast before him. "Please, control yourself!"

Turning to her, Gaara witnessed the grotesque transformations with his own eyes – freezing him suddenly from the sight. Never before had he seen her take such a form – and so erratically. Heaving in her breaths, her soft human face distorted into a snarling beast back and forth as he watched her trembling hands clasp together against her throat – desperately wishing for the changing to stop.

"Nomasaki," He spoke, his ringed-eyes full of concerned shock. "Are you alright?"

Realizing the attention directed towards her, she cupped her hands over her twisting face and fled the room – her shaking body giving her the strength and will to run. "I-I have to go!"

"Wait! Nomasaki!" Gaara reached, running after her into the hallway. "I can explain–!"

"Kazekage-sama!" Zarō chided, standing up from his seat. "Get back here this instant!"

Stepping into the winding corridor outside, Gaara paused in his steps, his expression concerned and solemn. She had already fled the scene, not giving him the chance to explain anything further. Without a trace, she disappeared from the mansion's grounds – leaving him to contemplate what has transpired before the advisors.

And the wolf fled.

As the afternoon approached, Gaara stood before her apartment door, unsure of how to settle the situation.

Bringing himself to knock, the door slowly opened a crack – her saddened violet eyes peeking through. She appeared as if broken from merely her glance. "Gaara," She spoke, her tone dull. "I thought I could sense you approaching. What is it?"

As he made eye contact with her, his suspicions were found to be true. Stepping forward, he gave a concerned glance towards her. "Can I… come in?"

Hesitantly, she nodded, opening her worn apartment door for him. As he followed her inside, he noticed that she was clothed in a night-robe, its blue fabric gleaming from the scattered rays of the sun that peaked through her uneven curtains. On the tiny kitchen counter were sake bottles shoved into a corner, while the sink dripped from its aged facet. Glancing towards the shelves upon the wall, books were spilling from its contents and mission papers were scattered upon a space over the tiled floor. His first glimpse into her home life was something he did not expect. Knowing her as a tidy and organized individual from their previous work experience together, he was surprised to learn how disorderly she was in her own home – or perhaps he arrived at a bad time?

Sitting across from her on the worn sofa in her living room, he glanced down upon his lap, pondering his words as the memory of guilt seeped into his mind, his ringed-eyes closing halfway while he felt her curious and somber glance on him. Beside him, she sat with her legs folded upon the sofa's pale green fabric, waiting for him to speak the words he searched for, her eyes visibly drained and defeated.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier," He began. "It was wrong of me to hide that…"

"Me, too… I also would like to apologize for my behavior," She nodded, her voice quiet. "I… got a bit overwhelmed back there, I'm sorry."

Turning to her, his expression became painted in concern – his seafoam eyes tinted in worry. "How come you didn't tell me what happened? Temari told me about the wound."

Jolting, his words startled her. Clutching the fabric of her kimono that covered her knees, its blue material bunched in her palms as his question shivered through her. Her worst concern was realized – he knew. Ashamed, she held her head down, looking upon her lap in disgrace and sorrow. "I didn't want you to worry about me… Also," Glancing down, she examined her spread palms upon her lap, narrowing her glance at her fingers – feeling her boiling blood come to a stop then start repeatedly. "It's… embarrassing… I don't even know why it affected me this way. It… scares me… I can't control it like I used to, I feel so off balance. I'm living in constant fear I will suddenly change… just as I did in the council chambers earlier." Curiosity entering her pained eyes, she turned to him – bracing herself for his response to her question. "If it's alright of me to ask, is this how you felt when Shukaku was taken from you?"

Startling him slightly, he took in her words with an open mind. His eyes closed halfway as he gazed at his lap, he remembered the odd sensation he felt when he found himself alive in that grassy field in the Land of Rivers – resurrected after the extraction of the one-tail. Feeling as if a part of him was absent, he returned to the land of the living as if a hollow shell of his former self. Months after, his sand prowess would be nearly absent and difficult to control, his second-nature torn from him suddenly and with no memory of it parting from his body. At death, he felt a vivid burning pain that was soon quelled with peace as he opened his eyes before his comrades – but his constant sand that bent at his will was shockingly absent. Fortunately, his prowess eventually returned, and even greater than it was before.

However, for Nomasaki, he could only imagine the fear she had for her own predicament.

Although her entire Kekkei Genkai was not permanently lost, her chakra was somehow greatly disrupted by whatever the enemy used on her – her balance was lost and she had no recollection of how to restore it. As someone who identified with her wolfishness in her everyday life, she had great difficulty grappling with her new reality, and the evidence was clearly visible upon her exhausted eyes. From the corner of his eye, he could make out the faded texture of her wound in the scattered sunlight that shone through her window – its indent provoking great empathy and concern.

"Yes," He nodded. "It was an adjustment, but it became easier with time." Turning to meet her gaze, he gave her a comforting expression, a light smile upon his lips. "You'll have it figured out soon. You're determined and strong-willed, I know you can overcome this… whatever this is."

Feeling his comfort, a subtle smile formed on her lips, assured by his words. "Now it's my turn," She began, her tone sounding brighter. "Why was it you kept the 'marriage-clause' a secret from me, anyways?"

"It's not that I kept it a secret, I forgot." He replied. "I didn't realize they wanted to confirm an arrangement so soon, so I…–?"

Timidly, she positioned herself before him on the sofa, her knees sinking into the cushion as she sat close to him with a playful yet calming air to her expression. Catching his attention, he gave her a curious glance, unsure of her sudden closeness. "Gaara," She spoke, her voice somewhat stern. "If as Kazekage, an arrangement is something you must do… may I present you and the council an ultimatum?"

"An ultimatum?" He repeated. "What do you mean?"

"If a marriage is required, I will accept." She revealed, edging closer to him, her lilac eyes gleaming in seriousness as a smile painted her lips. "As long as it's when we can both decide, and not the council or the advisors. If it can be our decision, and our decision only."

Nodding once, he gave a comforting smile towards her. "I'm sure we can have that arranged."

Warmly, she smiled from his answer. "Gaara, sit still for a moment." Confused by her request, he sat in wide-eyed silence as she sat only breaths away from him that afternoon. Softly, she placed her lips upon his, gingerly placing her palms along his jawline – fighting her incessant urges to change as she could feel her canines begin to grow within her jaws from the excitement.

Luckily, she kept them at bay.

Carefully, he leaned forward and returned her affections, holding her close. As their lips parted, he gazed into her vibrant eyes – their familiar air of warmth returning.

"Anything else?"

Chuckling lightly to herself for a moment, she smiled back – their foreheads touching as they sat in embrace. "That's all."